Headlight gasket fastening device



1954 l A. R. LEWELLEN, JR., ETAL 2,686,867

HEADLIGHT GASKET FASTENING DEVICE Filed Sept. 20, 1950 UNITED STATES PATE `mounting `unitary headlamp assemblies commotive vehicles and more particularly to'fasten- Patented Aug. 17, 1954 NT V Fi=ist e 2,686,865:` HEADLIGHT GASKET FAs'rENING DEVICE Albert R. Lewellen, Jr., Detroit, Mich., and John H; Diedring, David P. Claytomand Robert N. i Falge, Anderson, Ind., assignors `to General i I i i Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware` i i i t Application september 20, 195o, Serial No. 185,888 I 6 Claims. (Ol. 2240-41) The present invention relates to devices for Figure 1 is an elevational view partlyincrosssection andpartly broken away of a `headlamp mounting deviceembodying the present invention; Figure 2 is an elevational rear view of the mounting device bezel illustrating the sealingring and fastening means for securing the sealing ring to thebezel; Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1 illustrating `one form of fastening device of the presmonly referred to as sealed beam lamps on autoers for such devices. n 5

A headlamp mounting device which is used extensively in the automotive industry at the present` ime for mounting sealed beam headlamps comprising a lens, reector and light source sealed as a unit includes a socket member adapted ent invention; Figure 4` is aview similar to Figfor attachment to the vehicle body usually re- `ure 3 illustrating a modification of the present cessed in an aperture in the front fenders, a ball invention and Figures 5 and 6 are p'eISpeotiVe member` slidably engaging the socket member views respectively of the fastening devices illusand adjustable in `horizontal and vertical intertrated in Figures 3 and 4. f `seating planes to provide substantially universal 15 Referring now to the drawingand particularly movement of the ball member in the socketmemto Figure 1 there is illustrated a headlamp ber and means` for securing a lamp unit of the mounting deViCe Such aS these Commonly infuse sealed beam type tothe ball member, `To conon automotive vehicles at the present time.` It ceal the adjusting means,` and means forattachcomprises a socket member 2 adapted forreing the sealed beam lamp to the bali member, a 2o f@esseci mounting in an aperture of the bodyor bezel or frame is provided Which surrounds the fender of` a Vehiole, a ball member 4 universally lens portion of the lamp unit and is secured to mounted in the socket member for adjustment the socket member of the mounting devine `by threaded members such as 6. Secured to the With such an arrangement there is an annu1ar `ball member 4 by suitable means (not shown)` is space between the lamp unit andthe bezel which a unitary lamp assembly 8 of the Sealed `beam `permits the entrance of water and other harmlamp type. A bezel IU Surrounds the lamp unit 8. `fu1 material. To avoid "this condition a rubber ball and socket members 4 and 2 respectively to sealing ring is provided to `p11 `the space The conceal the adjusting means and provide a conjsealing ring is secured to the bezel by fasteners. toured Surface blending in With the Vehicle body The sealing ring generally consists of 'a length 30 01 fender Dertien to Whioh iille headlamp mountof rubber material of suitable cross-section tted ingidevioe is attached. Opposite edges of the to the bezel around its inner edge with the two *bezel are inturned at I2 and I4 as shown. Supends adjacent. Heretofore `there has been no ported inthe channel formed by the beZel edge completely satisfactorymeans for securing these l2 iS a Sealing ring I6 of resilient material Such ends to the bezel consequently the dangling ends I as 111bbe1'- AS Shown in Figure 1 the body of the `interfere with the assembling of the bezel to the sealing ring I6 is formed to `t into the bezel supporting socket member structure channel formed by inturned edge I2 and hasan Accordingly it is an object of the present in- I "inwardly extending lange lll Which engages the veiiiion to provide a fastening device particularly Clamping ring 20 of the mounting device assemadapted to secure the ends of the sealing ring 40 bly 110 Seal the Snaoe between the Clamping ring to the bezel to avoid danghng ends and the conand the bezel. The sealing ring I6 is held in sequent interference with assembly of the bezel place 0n the bezel by e plurality of fasteners 22, to the headlamp mounting device, vp I 24 and 26, Figure 2. Fasteners 22 are provided `This and other objects are attained in accord- With g1 inning DOIOnS 23 Which engage the Seal- .e ance with the present invention by provldmg a ing ring and legs 30, the ends of which are seated spring wire fastening device so constructed as to Qin. the ellennel 0f xine bezel formed by the inprovide a middle portion adapted to extend along turned edge 4- Fastener 24 is formed Witha the end portions of the adjacent ends of the ring downwardly depending portion 32- Formed adwith lateral gripping portions at the ends formed jacent the downwardly depending portion 32 are to the surface of the ringffor gripping the ring `m1cops vwhich engage the channel of the bezel and legs extendmg from the gripping portions formed by the inturned edge I4 and legs 34 proand adapted to engage an edge of the bezel to vided with gripping ends 36 which engage the retain the ring in position. sealing ring I6. The downwardly depending por- For a. better understanding of the invention tion 32 of fastener 24 is adapted to be recessed in reference may be had to the drawing in which a slot 38 in the socket member 2, Figure 1, to piv.

otally mount the bezel on the socket member. The bezel is secured to the socket member 2 by a threaded member 4I). The respective fasteners 22 and 24 are disclosed and claimed in applications Serial Number 123,015, filed October 22, 1949, and Serial Number 123,014, filed October 22, 1949, now Patent Number 2,647,984, and assigned to the assignee of the present application.

Fastener 26 comprises a spring wire member which includes an elongated and undulated body portion 42 adapted to engage the rear surface of the adjacent end portions of the sealing ring I6, as shown. Extending from loops 44 are legs 46 with ends in engagement with the bezel channel formed by inturned edge I4, In applying this fastener 26, the legs 46 are spread apart and their inherent tendency to return to their original positions firmly holds the ends of the sealing 'ring in the channel I2. With this form of fastener there is sufficient length of the middle portion to engage and hold substantial portions adjacent the ends of the sealing ring I6 to prevent the ends dangling and any consequent interference in assembling of the bezel and ring on the headlamp mounting device,

Another form of fastener 48 is illustrated in Figures 4 and 6 and is substantially the same as fastener 26 except that the middle portion is comprised of two mutually inclined legs 50 and 52 with loops 54 at the ends thereof for gripping the surface of the sealing ring. Legs 56 extending from the loops 54 engage the bezel channel formed bythe inturned edge I4 to hold the ring in place.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In combination, a bezel, said bezel being provided with inwardly extending flanges at the opposite edges thereof, a length of resilient material mounted in one flanged edge of said bezel with the ends juxtaposed, a fastener for securing the juxtaposed ends of said resilient material in one of the flanged edges of said bezel, said fastener having Aa portion engaging a substantial length of said material adjacent its ends and legs extending therefrom and in engagement with the oppositely disposed flange of said bezel.

2. In combination, a door frame for automobile headlamp mounting devices, said door frame being provided with inwardly extending flanges at the opposite edges thereof, a length of resilient gasket mounted in one flanged edge of said door frame with the ends thereof in juxtaposition, a wire fastener for vsecuring the juxtaposed ends of said resilient material in the flanged edge of said door frame, said fastener having an undulated head portion in engagement with substantial portions of `one surface of the juxtaposed ends of said gasket, return-bent portions extending from the ends of said head portion in engagement with another surface of legs extending from said return-bent portions and in engagement with the other flange of said door frame.

3. In combination, a door frame for an automobile headlamp mounting device, said door frame being provided with inwardly extending flanges at the opposite edges. thereof, a length of resilient gasket mounted in one flanged edge of said door frame with the ends thereof in juxtaposition, a Wire fastener for securing the juxtathe gasket and said gasket and legs extending posed ends of said resilient gasket in one of the flanged edges of said door frame, said fastener having a gasket-engaging head comprising outwardly and angularly disposed legs in engagement with one surface of the juxtaposed ends of said gasket, return-bent portions extending from said legs and in engagement with another surface of said gasket, and legs extending from return-bent portions and in engagement with the otherflange of said door frame.

4. In combination, a door frame for an automobile headlamp mounting device, said door frame being provided with inwardly extending flanges at the opposite edges thereof, a length of resilient gasket mounted in one iianged edge of said door frame with the ends thereof in juxtaposition, a wire fastener for securing the juxtaposed ends of said resilient gasket in one of the flanged edges of said door frame, said fastener having a gasket engaging head comprising a plurality of engaging portions interconnected by laterally disposed portions, said head being in engagement with one surface of the juxtaposed ends of said gasket, return-bent portions extending from the oppositely disposed ends of said head and in engagement with another surface of said gasket and legs extending from said return-bent portions and in engagement with the other flanged edge of said door frame and holding the gasket therein.

5. A Wire fastening device for securing the juxtaposed ends of a gasket in the flanged edge of the door frame-of a headlamp mounting device, said fastening device comprising a gasketengaging head portion including a plurality7 of lengths interconnected by transverse portions to engage one surface of the juxtaposed ends of said gasket, return-bent portions extending from the opposite ends and to one side of said head portion for gripping the peripheral surface of from said returnbent portions to the other side of said head portion for engaging the door frame and securing the gasket therein.

6. In combination, a bezel, said bezel being provided with inwardly extending flanges at the opposite edges thereof, a length of resilient material mounted` in one flanged. edge of said bezel with the ends juxtaposed, a fastener for securing the juxtaposed ends of said resilient material in one of the flanged edges of said bezeLsaid fastener having one portion engaging a substantial length of said material adjacent one of said juxtaposed ends and another portion engaging a substantial length of said material adjacent the other of said juxtaposed ends and legs extending from said portions and in engagement with the oppositely disposed flange of said bezel.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany Jan. 27,. 1941 

